Work-handling mechanism for sewing machines



Dec. 1, 1925.

c. w. MUELLER I WORK HANDLING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed April 50, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 c.-w. MUELLER WORK HANDLING MECHANISM FOR SEWING-MACHINES I Filed A9121 17923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A? j? g? 1 A I if \/9 A6 1/ 5/ v k() I! a, J0 1% ""w r JZ U i g, $M a mmh a WORK HANDLIfiG MECHANISM'FOR SEWING MACHINES C. W. MUELLER Filed April so. 1923 4 suns-Sheet s J ll Dec. 1, 1925. 1,564,177

' C. W. MUELLER WORK HANDLING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed April 30, 1923 -4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 1, 1925 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES w. MUELLER, ors'r. LOUIS, MIssoI'mI, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO LEWIS I VISIBLE STITCH MACHINE Co.. A CORPORATION OF MAINE,

WORK-HANbLINQ MECHANISM ron SEWING MACHINES.

Application filed .A pril 30, 1923. Serial No. 635,458.

is a specification.

My invention relates to sewing machines,

and in some of its features more particularly to blind-stitch sewing machines, and has for its general objects to provide simple, attractive, easily-adjusted and facilelyoperatable work-handling mechanism, all in a structure which is particularly adapted for very high-speed operation. For attainment of these and other objects Which will become apparent from the following" description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, my invention consists in the features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth and specified in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein I. have illustrated a single embodiment of my invention, Fig. 1 is a front elevation, with parts broken away, of a blind-stitch sewing machine equipped with my improved workhandling' mechanism; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the work-handling mechanism; 'Fig. 3 is a vertical SGCtlOlbOIl line-3'3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a horizontal presentation of work-handling parts, viewed as from the line el-4 of Fig. 2, and with fragments broken away; Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of elements of the feed-system, and Figs. 6 and 7 are further illustrations of the same parts but in different operative positions; and Fig. 8 is a-perspeetive diagram exaggeratedly showing a cooperative relationship between the work-bending parts and the'feed system.

Referring to Fig. 1, the frame 10 carries on its upper arm 10 the stitch-forming mechanism driven from the main shaft 11 j extendinglongitudinally through said arm. In the form shown this stitch-forming other qualities requisite thereto, and one in whicha's in various other general sewingmachine structures my invention may advantageously be embodied.

In the workhandling structure shown I provide feed mechanism having a system of movable parts actuated wholly, in the feeding operations, from a single rotatable shaft, without the interposition of any rock shaft, thus to insure smooth, practically vibration-less operation even under very -high speeds and making for great simplicity of construction. Thus, in the construct1on shown, a single rotatable feed shaft 15 extends along and within the arm 10", pref- I erably along a line that is well in front of and ,below the stitching point, or pointwhere a node of goods is to be presented to the needle through the presser-foot opening 13.. This shaft 15 may be driven as by toothed belt 16 from the mainshaft 11, at

its rear end, and at its forward end it has a suitable gear 17 for driving the two relatively-movable elements of the feed system.

' The feed System, indicated as a whole by 18, com rises as two elements a clamp member an a feed member 20, interconnected for'cooperation by an actuator 21 which is rotatable from the feed shaft 15, in any position to which the clamp member may be moved. Since, in operation, the clamp mem ber acts only to. hold the goods against the abutment 13 while the feed member is idling, the clamp member need be capacitated only for two-way movement, namely vertical movement toward and from the abutment, whereas the feed member, working through slots in the clamp member, is capacitated for four-way movement (toward and from, as well as fore-and-aft with respect to, the abutment), but the'two memhers, connected through their actuator 21, should becapable of bodily displacement together away from the abutment, to open the machine for insertion or removal of I work, all without disturbing the driving is mounted, coaxially with shaft 15, in.

a frame extension 10 and on this shaft the broad lower arm 24 of the clamp memberframeis loosely mounted. The generallyupright arm 26 of this frame is formed as a pair of lugs, between which the clampplate 27 is pivoted, such plate being preferably substantially coextensivewith the abutment 13 and having suitable slots 28 for the serrated portion or points of the feed dog.

' train with the gear 17.

Obviously, when frame 23 is rocked about haft 25, the effective movement of the clamp plate is substantially in a vertical direction.

The rotary actuator 21 is an eccentric, the shaft or hub portion of which is mounted in the angular part of the clamp-frantic, one of its shaft sections being extended and carrying a gear 30 whiclris constantly in An intervening transfer pinion 31, mounted on the frame arm 24 is employed, in the particular con" struction shown, both to give proper rotative direction to the actuator and to make as small as is mechanically desirable all of the rapidly rotatable parts of the feed, for reduction of momentum and other advantages. Thus it will be seen that, however the clamp frame 23 may be moved about its pivotal axis which is-concentriewith shaft 15, the gear train merely planets with respect to the gear 17 on shaft 15, and the appropriate driving relation is constantly maintained.

The eccentric 21 engages the opening in the straportion 32 of the body or shank,

33 of fee member 20, thereby mounting said feed member on the frame 24 between 1ts side lugs 26. Tocapacitate the feed member for four-way movement relative to the clamp member and relative to the abutment 13, such feed-body 'is doubly pivoted, by its connection with a link-member 34, arranged below the frame arm 24. At its forward end link 34 loosely engages a rock shaft GOQimmediately below the feed shaft 25, and at its forward end said link loosely engages a two-diameter bolt 36 which is adjustably secured in the slot 37 of thebody of the feed member. Manifestly, adjustment of the bolt in the slot will vary the feeding range of movement of the upper end of the feed body occasioned by the fore-andaft throw of the eccentric, and the ivotal mounting at the forward end of link 34 enables the feed member to be raised and lowered. )Vhile a considerable range of .ad- Justment is afforded, the angular displacement of link; 34 from parallelism with the arm 24 of the feed frame will be small, at most, and this approximation of a parallel link-motion is obviously desirable. On the upper end of the body of the feed member the feed dog 38 is pivotall'y mounted as at 39, with its appropriate teeth registering with the slots 28 of the clamp plate, and this dog may work flat against the presserfoot.

The movable system aforesaid is yieldingly pressed toward the abutment or resser-foot 13, preferably by a spring working on an appropriate part thereof, and in the specific construction shown a leaf spring 40 is arranged to press against the lower extremity ofthe body 33.01 the feed member, a notch 41 in the extremity of said spring embracing a lug 33' at the bottom of the feed member. This spring, extending longitudinally within the frame arm ltl bears slidingly on a fulcrum lug 43 and is adjustably tensioned by an adjusting screw 44 passing through the spring to form a pivot-stud and engaging a saddle 45 that bears upon the top of the butt end of the spring. The spring, thus mounted, has sufficient capacity for lateral displace ment of its active end to accommodate the fore-and-aft movement of the lower extremity of the feed-member.

Referring particularly'to Figs. 5, 6,, and 7, it will be apparent that since the movable system is constantly pressed toward the presser-foot 13 by the spring 40, one of its members, either the clamp plate or the feed' dog will normally be pressed into contact with the presser foot or the work subjaccnt thereto. The construction preferably brin s the active surfaces of the clamp and the feed dog level at positions of the eccentric 180 degrees (or slightly less) apart. As the eccentric 21 is moved counter-clock wise from the position illustrated in Fig. 5 it positions the feed dog 38 higher than the clamp plate andmoves the feed dogforward to advance the work. Thus the clamp plate is forced down during the feeding action. as shown in Fig. 6, the clamp frame turning on the shaft 25 as a pivotal axis. Cont-innation of the rotation ,of the eccentric will lower the feed dog below the surface of the clamp plate, and therefore at the end of the feeding excursion of the feed dog the clamp plate again comes into contact with the 1 and the feed system in an arrangement such that the bender is instrumental in depressing the'work system as a whole to open the machine for insertion or removal of work.

With respect to the feed mechanism above described the shaft aligning with the feed shaft 1:) acts only as a pivotal support for the clamp-member frame, but the cloth-bending device 50 is adjustably secured to said shaft by a split-clamp 51, between the shaft-engaging hubs of the frame arm 24, and to accommodate movement of this bender 50 the rock in its bearings in the frame-extension 10. The bender 50 is preferably a slender finger having a suitably shaped, curved end 52 registering with the .central slot of the clamp plate and with the work opening 13 of the presser foot 13, sothat, in conjunction with said work opening, it may protrude a node of the work into the path of reciprocation of the needle. For adjusting the position of the bender the shaft 25 has keyed to the end thereof a lever 54 acted on by spring tending to elevate the bender, the opposite end of the spring being connected to adjusting lever 56 pivoted as at 57 and acted on by adjusting screw 58 (see Fig. 4). normally maintains contact with a conical adjusting piece 59 threaded into the end of frame member 10 so that as the cone is axially moved the raised position of the bender will be varied. The lever 5-1 may be rocked away from the cone 59, however, so that at any time the bender is capable of depression against the tension of spring In employing the bender to depress the movable feed system, so that both bender and feed system will descend together when the machine is opened, I provide a rock shaft 60 extending lengthwise of frame arm 10? and at a, suitable point within the machine base provided with a lever arm'6l which may easily be lip-thrust by the kneelift element 62, forming part of any con- -ven'ient knee-lift device mounted on the ma- 'The bender-finger 50 has a downward projection 50 arranged to make contact with the solid cross-bar portion of the arm 2- of the clamp-frame 23 on the feed mechanism.

Now it will be manifest that as shaft 60 is rocked, due to the lifting of lever (31, the gear segments will rock the shaft 25 to depress the bender, so that its pro'ection 50, striking the pivoted frame 0 the feed system will depress the feed system in its entirety against the tension of spring 40. fully opening the machine for insertion of work between the work handling parts and the Presser-foot.

The lever 54- vention which I have found to be desirable, 7

some of the details of which, I mayclaim for their specific advantage, it will be understood that many changes in specific construction'may be made without departure from the spirit of my invention within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: I

1. In a sewing mabhine, an abutment against which the work is to be pressed, a feed system movable relatively thereto comprising two relatively-movable elements being a clamped member capacitated for movement toward and from the abutment and a feed member capa- -itated for four-way movement relative to said abutment,.yielding means acting on said system to press said elements toward the abutment, a single operatin shaft, and means operated from said shaft for imparting to said clamp member andv said feed member their respective movements relative to said abutment.

2. In a sewing machine, an abutment against which the work is to be pressed, a feed system movable relatively thereto comprising two relatively-movable elements being a clamp member capacitated for movement toward and from the abutment and a feed member capacitated for four-way movement relative to said abutment, yielding means acting on said system to press said elements toward the abutment, a single rotary operating shaft having a fixed axis of rotation, and means operated from said shaft for imparting to said clamp member and said feed member their respective movements relative to said abutment.

3. In a sewing machine, an abutment for the work, a feed system movable relatively thereto comprising two relatively movable elements being a clamped member capacitated for two-way movement relative to the abutment and. a feed member capacitated for four-way movement relative ,to said clamp member and abutment, an actuator interposed between and bearing in said two elements for imparting to said feed member four-way movement relative to said directional rotation about a fixed axis, and

part thereto their relative movements with to comprising two relatively-mova respect to each other in. any movable system.

5. In a sewing machine, an abutment for the work, a system movable relatively thereto comprising two relatively-movable elements being a clamp member capacitated for movement toward and from the abutment and a feed member capacitated for four-way position of the movement relative to the clamp member,

a rotatable actuator engaging both said relatively movable elements for bodily movement therewith when the movable system is depressed to open the machine for work insertion, a single rotatable shaft havinga fixed axis, and connections between said shaft and said actuator operatable to rotate the latter in any position of the movable system relative to said abutment and to said shaft. a

'6. In a sewing machine, an abutment for the work, a system movable relatively 1e elements being a clamp member capacitated for movement toward and from the abutment and a feed member capacitated for four-way movement relative to the clamp member, a rotatable actuator carried by the clamp member and engaging said feed member for relatively moving said feed member with respect to the clamp member, a single feed shaft having a fixed axis and uni-directionally rotatable, and a gear train affording constant operative connection between said rotatable shaft and said rotatable actuaton.

7. In-a sewing machine, an abutment for the work, a relativelymovable stem com prising a clamp member pivote for moyement toward and from the abutment and a feed member capacitated for four-way movement relative to the clamp member,

a rotatable actuator interposed between and v' the work, and

bearing in said clamp member and feed member for moving the feed member relatively to the clamp member a single shaft concentric with" the pivota axis of said clamp member, constant connections between said shaft and said actuator, and a spring acting on a. portion of said movable stem normally to press said system towar said abutment.

8. In a sewing machine, an abutment for ecd mechanism comprising a single feed shaft arranged for uni-directional rotation, about a fixed axis, means for driving it, a clamp member ivoted coaxially with said feed shaft an movable toward and from saidabutment, a feed member mounted for four-way movement with respect to said clamp member, arotatable actuating-eccentric interposed between and beartheremum-2' ing in said clam member and feed member,

said connected 0 am member and feed memher being depressi le in unison from the abutment to open the .machine for workinsertion, yielding means for normally pressing said relatively movable members toward the abutment, and driving connections between said feed shaft and said rotatable actuator including -a gear on said shaft and a gear connected with said actuator and driven from the shaft gear in any position to which the actuator gear may planetarily be moved with respect to the,shaft gear.

9. In a sewing machine, an abutment for the work, a feed. system relatively movable thereto comprising a pivoted clamp member movable toward and from the abut-ment and a feed member capacitated for four-way movement relat'we to said clamp member, a.

rotatable actuator interposed between said clamp member and feed member and bearingtherein for moving said feed member relatively to said clamp member, a single feed shaft arranged for uni-directional retat-ion about a fixed axis coaxial with the pivotal axis for the clamp member, means normally pressing said feed member and clamp member toward the abutment but permit-ting their depression to open the machine, and driving connections between said feed shaft and said actuator comprising a gear on the feed shaft and a plurality of gears in a train meshing with the shaft-gear and acting on the actuator and so carried by the clamp member as to planet with respect to the gear on thefeed shaft when said clamp member is pivotally depressed.-

1 O.-In a sewing machine, an abutment for the work, a clamp member mounted for movement toward and from said abutment,

"a feed member, means interposed between said feed member and clamp member for imparting four-way movement to the former with respect to the latter, a pivot for said feed member adjustable relatively to the last said means to vary the throw of the feed member fo're-ahd-aft with respect to the abutment and also movable up and down with said feed member, and a yielding means normally pressing said members toward said abutment.

11. In a sewing machine, an abutment for the work, a clamp member generally ver-.

tically movable toward andfrom said work, a feed member bodily movable with, and also movable with respect to, said clamp member, an actuator inter osed between said clamp member and fee member for imparting four-way motion to the former with respect to t e latter, a pivot for said feed member at a point more remote from the abutment than the actuator, said pivot being movable toward and from the abutment with said feed member, wielding means for pressing salcl members toward said abutment, a single drive shaft rotatable about a fixed axis, and'means for communicating motion, from said drive shaft to said actuator in any position of said. actuator.

12. In a sewing machine, an abutment for the work, a clamp member pivoted for .movement toward and from said abutment,

a feed member carried by said clamp member, an actuator interposed between said toward the abutment, a single feed shaft uni-directionally rotatable and concentric withthe pivotal axis of the clamp member. and gearing constantly connecting said shaft with said actuator.

13. In a sewing machine, an abutment for the work, a clamp member vertically movable toward and from .aid abutment, a rotatable actuator carried by said clamp member, a feed member mounted on said actuator and extending therefrom toward and from the abutment, the portion of said feed member remote from the abutment having a slot'therein, a pivot member adjustable in saidslot, a link arranged generally horizontally having a fixed pivot at one end and a pivotal connection with said feed-carried pivot at its other end, and a laterally shiftable leaf spring connected with and bearing against the lower extremity of said feed member, tending constantly to press said feed and clamp members toward the abutment.

14. In a sewing machine, a presser-foot having a: work-opening, feed mechanism mounted for bodily depression, a normally motionless bender coacting with said presserfoot opening and depressible from the presser-foot for work insertion, said bender being arranged when depressed to depress the feed mechanism, and means for depressing said bender and through it the. feed mechanism.

15. In a sewing machine, a presser-foot having a work opening, feed-mechanism mounted for bodily depression, a bender normally coacting with said presser-foot opening and depressible from the presserfoot; said bender and said feed-mechanism being pivoted coaxially for such depression and said bender being arranged when depressed to depress said feed-mechanism; and means for depressing said bender;

16. In a sewing machine, a resser-foot having a 'work opening, feed-mechanism mounted for bodily depression, a bender normally coacting with said presser-t'oot opening and depressible away from said resser-toot, said bender being arranged when depressed to depress said feed-mechanism and being adjustable to position it with respect to said work opening of the presser-ioot without depressing said feedmechanism; means for so adjusting said bender, and independent means for depressin-g said bender.

17. In a sewing machine, a resser-foot having a work opening, feed-mechanism below said resser-foot mounted for bodily depression, a bender normally coacting with said presser-foot opening and pivotally mounted for adjustment toward and from, and for depression away from, said pressertoot opening, said bender being arranged v for adjustment with respect to the work opening of the resser-foot without depressing the feed-mechanism but to depress sa1d feed-mechanism when the bender is depressed; an adjustment lever connected with said bender, an adjusting stop coacting w1th said lever to adjust said bender but leave the same free for depression; and means for depressing said bender.

18. In a sewing machine, a resser-foot having a work opening, feed-mechanism therebelow mounted for bodily depression, a bender below said resser-foot normally coacting with the resser-foot opening and depressible from the presser-foot, said bender being arranged when depressed to dei press the feed-mechanism, an adjustable spring normally raising the bender, and means for depressing said bender against the tension of said spring.

19. In a sewing machine, a resser-foot having a work opening, feed-mechanism therebelow mounted for bodily depression, a bender below said 'presser foot normally coacting with said resser-foot opening and depresslble away from the presser-foot, said bender being arranged when depressed to depress said feed-mechanism, an adjustable spring normally raising the bender, an adjustable stop to limit the spring-raised position of the bender, and means for fully depressing said bender.

20. In a machine of the character described, the combination witha Presser-foot having a work openin a normally-motionless bender coacting therewith and pivoted for depression, a depressible feed system comprising a clamp member pivoted coaxially with the bender for movement toward and from the presser-foot and a feed member carried, by said clamp member and capacitated for four-way movement with respect thereto, means for actuating said feed member, said bender coacting with said clamp member to depress the latter when the bender is depressed, and operator-actuatable means for depressing the bender.

21. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a resser-foot having a work opening, a normally motionless bender cooperating with said work opening and pivotally mounted for depression,

spring means normally sustaining the bender, operator-actuatable means for depressing the bender; a depressible system comprising a clamp member pivoted coaxially with the bender, a four-way feed member carried by the clamp member and an actuator interposed between said clamped member and feed member; means for driving said actuator in any position of the depressible system, and spring-means for normally sustaining the depressible system.

22. In amachine of the character described, the combination of a resser-foot, a depressible feed-system, a depressible normally-motionless bender adjustable relatively to the resser-foot and cooperating with the feed systemto depress it with full depression of the bender, operator-actuatable means for depressing the bender, and means for adjusting the bender arranged to permit its depression. 7

23. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a presser-foot, a depressible feed system normally spring-sustained in cooperative relation to the presser-foot; a depressible bender adjustable relatively to the resser-foot and normally spring-sustained in adjusted relation tothe presser-foot, said bender cooperating with the feed system to depress it upon full depression of the bender; means for depressing the bender; and means for adjusting the bender arranged to permit such depression without changing the adjustment by reason of such depression.

24. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a resser-foot for rocking said shaft, an adjust-able stop for. the normal position of saiddeterminin bender, spring means .for normally pressing said pivot-shaft to elevate the bender to stopped position, and spring means normally upholding the depressible feed system for operative coaction with the resser-foot, said bender having provision for engaging the feed-system to depress it to open t e machine for work insertion when the bender is depressed.

CHARLES W. MUELLER. 

